On Tuesday, the "Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ adopted a FY2014-15 millage rate of 0.3658 mill, four percent lower than the current fiscal year. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $36.58 a year, or about $3.05 per month. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2014, through Sept. 30, 2015. The total FY2014-15 budget for the District is $166.3 million.
The budget is designed to protect Florida's water resources and to improve Florida's economic vitality. All programs and projects are dedicated to the mission of the District and designed to provide the highest quality service to residents within the District.
The District will also leverage $75 million of its funds through cooperative partnerships with public and private partners. The funds are matched by our partners resulting in approximately $150 million available for alternative water supply development and other water resource management projects.
Additionally, a total of $12 million is budgeted for springs initiatives, of which $5.7 million is designed to enhance and improve submerged aquatic vegetation and wetland habitat. Another $6.4 million in state funding is designated for water supply activities to reduce groundwater withdrawals and improve water quality.
Other key budget highlights include $22 million for reclaimed water projects which reduce reliance on groundwater sources; $12 million for the restoration of impacted lands to improve water quality and re-establish wetland and upland natural systems; and $11 million for stormwater improvement projects to improve water quality of SWIM priority water bodies.
The budget is designed to protect Florida's water resources and to improve Florida's economic vitality. All programs and projects are dedicated to the mission of the District and designed to provide the highest quality service to residents within the District.
The District will also leverage $75 million of its funds through cooperative partnerships with public and private partners. The funds are matched by our partners resulting in approximately $150 million available for alternative water supply development and other water resource management projects.
Additionally, a total of $12 million is budgeted for springs initiatives, of which $5.7 million is designed to enhance and improve submerged aquatic vegetation and wetland habitat. Another $6.4 million in state funding is designated for water supply activities to reduce groundwater withdrawals and improve water quality.
Other key budget highlights include $22 million for reclaimed water projects which reduce reliance on groundwater sources; $12 million for the restoration of impacted lands to improve water quality and re-establish wetland and upland natural systems; and $11 million for stormwater improvement projects to improve water quality of SWIM priority water bodies.